Proparacaine Overuse in Corneal Abrasions at the Emergency Department: A Case Series.

ABSTRACT: Corneal abrasions are among the most common ophthalmic injuries in the emergency department (ED) and primarily present as severe ocular pain. Topical anesthetics provide temporary analgesia, but overuse is associated with complications including further corneal injury, infection, and vision loss. This case series describes three patients who used a 15-mL bottle of 0.05% proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution after discharge from the ED and returned within three days with corneal injury and pain. Although the use of topical anesthetics is traditionally discouraged by ophthalmologists, publications in the emergency medicine literature support their use. We review the literature surrounding topical anesthetic use in the ED setting and caution against prescribing patients topical anesthetics for corneal abrasions, particularly without patient counseling and significant restriction of anesthetic supply.

New application of an old drug proparacaine in treating epilepsy via liposomal hydrogel formulation.

Proparacaine (PPC) is a previously discovered topical anesthetic for ophthalmic optometry and surgery by blocking the central Nav1.3. In this study, we found that proparacaine hydrochloride (PPC-HCl) exerted an acute robust antiepileptic effect in pilocarpine-induced epilepsy mice. More importantly, chronic treatment with PPC-HCl totally terminated spontaneous recurrent seizure occurrence without significant toxicity. Chronic treatment with PPC-HCl did not cause obvious cytotoxicity, neuropsychiatric adverse effects, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and even genotoxicity that evaluated by whole genome-scale transcriptomic analyses. Only when in a high dose (50 mg/kg), the QRS interval measured by electrocardiography was slightly prolonged, which was similar to the impact of levetiracetam. Nevertheless, to overcome this potential issue, we adopt a liposome encapsulation strategy that could alleviate cardiotoxicity and prepared a type of hydrogel containing PPC-HCl for sustained release. Implantation of thermosensitive chitosan-based hydrogel containing liposomal PPC-HCl into the subcutaneous tissue exerted immediate and long-lasting remission from spontaneous recurrent seizure in epileptic mice without affecting QRS interval. Therefore, this new liposomal hydrogel formulation of proparacaine could be developed as a transdermal patch for treating epilepsy, avoiding the severe toxicity after chronic treatment with current antiepileptic drugs in clinic.

The Safety of Topical Anesthetics in the Treatment of Corneal Abrasions: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that topical anesthetics provide superb analgesia to the painful eye, they are not prescribed routinely to patients when they are discharged from the emergency department because of concerns for delayed healing and corneal erosion. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the evidence for the safety of topical proparacaine and tetracaine for pain relief in patients with corneal abrasions. METHODS: This is a systematic review looking at the use of topical anesthetic agents in the treatment of corneal abrasions in the emergency department. RESULTS: Our literature search produced two emergency department-based, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies on human patients with corneal abrasions. Additionally, we found four studies that investigated the application of topical anesthetics in patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy. All six studies demonstrated that a short course of dilute topical anesthetic provided efficacious analgesia without adverse effects or delayed epithelial healing. CONCLUSION: Limited available data suggests that the use of dilute topical ophthalmologic proparacaine or tetracaine for a short duration of time is effective, though their safety for outpatient use is inconclusive.

AG-920 (Articaine) Ophthalmic Solution: A Masked, Active-Controlled Evaluation of Its Local Anesthetic Efficacy and Safety in Pediatric Patients.

Purpose: The safety and efficacy of a novel topical ocular anesthetic (AG-920 sterile ophthalmic solution, 8%) was previously evaluated in adults. For both clinical and regulatory purposes, this new agent was evaluated in children. Methods: This was a Phase 3, randomized, active-controlled, single-masked, parallel-group design study in healthy pediatric subjects performed at a private practice retina clinic in the United States. The safety and anesthetic efficacy of AG-920 was compared with proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.5% in 60 children undergoing ophthalmic examinations. The primary efficacy endpoint was whether the investigator was able to perform the eye examination. Results: In all subjects in each treatment group, the investigator was able to perform the eye examination without additional local anesthetic. There were no adverse events reported in this study. In both the study eye and fellow eye, there were no notable changes after dosing, and both treatment groups were similar. All external eye exams in all subjects in both treatment groups were normal. Conclusions: In this pediatric population aged 7 months to >11 years, AG-920 was therapeutically equivalent to marketed proparacaine with respect to having an ophthalmic examination performed without needing additional local anesthetic. Further, AG-920 was well tolerated, and there were no clinically significant safety findings.

Combined topical and intracameral anesthesia for Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

To evaluate the use of combined topical and intracameral anesthesia for Descemet's stripping automated keratoplasty (DSAEK). This was a retrospective comparative cohort analysis consisting of 10 eyes in 10 consecutive patients undergoing DSAEK surgery with combined topical and intracameral anesthesia. These cases were compared with 21 randomly selected controls during the same time period undergoing DSAEK surgery performed under retrobulbar anesthesia. Incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications, and endothelial cell counts were compared. In all cases, DSAEK was completed without intraoperative complications. All patients tolerated the procedure well. There were 6 cases of postoperative graft dislocation requiring rebubbling, and no cases of primary failure or endophthalmitis. No significant difference in endothelial cell counts was found at final follow-up. Short-term results suggest that combined topical and intracameral anesthesia is as safe and effective for DSAEK in cooperative patients when compared to retrobulbar anesthesia. It may thereby be an alternative anesthetic modality for patients in whom retrobulbar or peribulbar anesthesia may be risky or contraindicated.

An atypical presentation of acanthamoeba keratitis in a patient with keratoconus treated briefly with topical anesthetic.

OBJECTIVES: To present a case of biopsy proven acanthamoeba keratitis requiring penetrating keratoplasty in a patient with keratoconus whose clinical course was remarkable for its lack of ocular injection and pain. The absence of these key findings may have contributed to a delay in diagnosis and a delay in instituting antiamoebic therapy. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 21-year-old woman who wore soft contact lenses for management of keratoconus presented with a painful suppurative corneal infiltrate and epithelial defect. The patient was initially seen in an emergency department where she was given a bottle of topical anesthetic drops (proparacaine) to use for pain. When she was seen by the authors 18 hr after presenting to the emergency department, the proparacaine was immediately discontinued, and she was treated with fortified antibiotic (vancomycin and tobramycin) eye drops and oral antiviral medications (famciclovir). Despite an initial improvement and complete resolution of ocular discomfort, the patient went on to develop a dense, peripheral stromal infiltrate that failed to improve despite intensive treatment. Confocal microscopy and corneal biopsy were definitive for acanthamoeba infection. The patient subsequently failed medical therapy and underwent large diameter penetrating keratoplasty. The patient has shown no evidence of acanthamoeba recurrence in the corneal graft. CONCLUSIONS: Keratoconic patients may have atypical presentations of acanthamoeba keratitis, which may delay diagnosis and institution of medical therapy. Even brief use of topical anesthetics may further complicate the clinical picture.

Ring keratitis associated with topical abuse of a dilute anesthetic after refractive surgery.

Anesthetic toxic keratitis is rare and presents as a ring keratitis, which is often misdiagnosed as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Here, we report an unusual case of toxic keratitis caused by topical abuse of a dilute anesthetic. A 26-year-old woman presented with bilateral corneal edema, ring infiltrates, pigmented keratic precipitate, Descemets membrane folding, and strong anterior chamber reactions 2 weeks after laser subepithelial keratomileusis surgery. Tracing back her medical history, topical dilute 0.1% proparacaine was prescribed and frequently used for 1 month. Toxic keratitis was suspected. After discontinuation of the topical anesthetic and initiation of treatment with topical 20% autologous serum, complete corneal epithelialization was achieved within 1 week. Corneal infiltrates and anterior chamber reaction gradually subsided. Vision improved from finger counting to 20/20 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye, but confocal microscopy showed decreased corneal endothelial cells. Topical abuse of a dilute topical anesthetic can cause severe toxic keratitis and endothelial cell loss. The physician must be aware of the signs of topical anesthetic abuse and should not prescribe even a dilute anesthetic for long-term use. Autologous serum can help in the recovery of toxic keratitis.

Comparison of Topical Versus Peribulbar Anesthesia for 23G Pars Plana Vitrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of topical anesthesia versus peribulbar anesthesia for 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Ophthalmology Department, Lahore General Hospital, Ameer-ud-Din Medical College, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore from April 2013 to March 2016. METHODOLOGY: A total of 110 patients were equally divided (n=55) in group A (topical anesthesia) and group B (peribulbar anesthesia). In group A, pledget soaked with 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride were placed in the superior and inferior fornices three minutes before surgery, and removed just before surgery. For group B patients, 3 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was used for peribulbar anesthesia three minutes before surgery. Surgical time was noted from the placement of pledget in fornix till the eye pad placed in group A, and from the time of peribulbar anesthesia in group B till the eye pad placed at the end of surgery. All data was recorded in Excel sheet and p-values were calculated using online OpenEpi. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient was 56.28 ±13.76 years. Male patients were 78 (70.9%) and female patients were 32 (29.1%). Mean duration of surgery was 30.32 ±7.07 minutes and mean pain score was 2.30 ±0.98. There was a significant difference with respect to mean duration of surgery in patients who were given topical anesthesia (32.52 ±6.92 minutes) versus those given peribulbar anesthesia (28.12 ±6.57 minutes, p<0.001). Mean pain score in topical anesthesia group (3.11 ±0.89) was significantly higher as compared to peribulbar anesthesia group (2.67 ±0.91, p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Topical anesthesia is as effective as peribulbar anesthesia in terms of patient comfort and duration of surgery for 23-G pars plana vitrectomy in patients with vitreous hemorrhage.

[Self-medication with local anaesthetics by glaucoma patients using teletonometry]. / Selbstmedikation mit Lokalanästhetika durch Glaukompatienten bei der Teletonometrie.

BACKGROUND: Self-tonometry, a supplementary measurement of the intraocular pressure in ophthalmology by glaucoma patients using an automatic tonometer, will become more and more important in the future. As long as the self-tonometry has to work in the contact modus with the ocular surface, home application of a topical anaesthetic by the glaucoma patient will be a requirement for a successful measurement. So far no severe problems within this controlled self-medication have been seen. Nevertheless, public health authorities believe patient health is put at high risk by the application of local anaesthetics during self-tonometry. As there are no clinical studies of the health care, we evaluated the local tolerability of a topical anaesthetic in line with self-tonometry employing a modified tonometer OCUTON S. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 glaucoma patients participated in a prospective clinical study of the routine clinical service in which each was monitored for 1 year. The telemonitoring involved self-tonometry for at least 6 months in every case and Ocuton S Proparakain-POS 0.5% eyedrops (proxymetacaine-HCl) were applied by the probands before every measurement of the intraocular pressure with a modified self-tonometer. Information regarding the local tolerability of the topical anaesthetic was analysed using a standardised questionnaire. The intensity of the following subjective symptoms was listed in separate visual analogue scales for: lacrimation, burning, foreign body sensation, mucus aggregation, pruritus and pain. RESULTS: Information from 83 glaucoma patients on local tolerability of proparacaine eyedrops could be analysed. For several reasons no data could be gathered from 17 probands, which were refusal to complete the questionnaire, cancelled participation and, in two test persons, there emerged an allergic reaction (local eyelid redness and swelling) which necessitated a change to a different topical anaesthetic. In all other participants the application was carried out without any significant local or systemic symptoms or side-effects. Immediately after application of the eyedrops 36.1% of the test persons suffered a minor conjunctival hyperaemia which eased off within 1 h in 20.4% of these patients. Of the interviewed glaucoma patients 91.5% judged the single symptoms on the visual analogue scale between zero and medium intensity. The severest effects, according to the subjective evaluation, were felt in symptoms of burning with a score of 94 and lacrimation graded 96. The least intensity was established in the symptom of mucus aggregation where 72.3% rated this symptom in the visual analogue scale between 0 and 10. The other symptoms pruritus, feeling of pressure and foreign body sensation hardly differed in subjective ratings. CONCLUSION: A self-medication with topical anaesthetics on undamaged ocular surfaces for self-tonometry purposes can be performed by glaucoma patients without a high risk potential. However, the application presupposes that routine ophthalmological examinations are carried out according to the ophthalmological associations' recommendations. Therefore, medical care concepts which integrate self-tonometry into routine ophthalmological services and comply with the complex requirements of a modern glaucoma management should be applied more often.

Fingertip dermatitis in an ophthalmologist caused by proparacaine.

PURPOSE: To report the late diagnosis of allergic response to proparacaine hydrochloride in an ophthalmologist. METHOD: Case report. In a 49-year-old practicing ophthalmologist, the history, clinical findings of fingertip dermatitis, skin pathology, and skin patch testing are described. RESULTS: Proparacaine, as the initiating agent, took almost 3 years to identify because of the unusual pattern of allergy. We explored numerous treatment options before identifying and removing the offending agent. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmologists may be exposed to proparacaine on a daily basis. This unique report heightens the awareness of this rare work-related complication.

Topical diclofenac sodium in the management of anesthetic abuse keratopathy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of anesthetic abuse keratopathy and to suggest the use of topical diclofenac sodium in the management of this disorder. METHOD: Narcotics and topical diclofenac were used to control pain in a patient who developed a corneal ulcer after abusing topical anesthetics. RESULT: After the institution of topical diclofenac, the patient reported substantial improvement in comfort and less reliance on narcotic agents for analgesia. CONCLUSION: We found topical diclofenac to be useful in controlling pain in this patient with anesthetic abuse keratopathy.

Collagen shield drug delivery: therapeutic concentrations of tobramycin in the rabbit cornea and aqueous humor.

Collagen shields made of porcine collagen were placed in a solution containing tobramycin sulfate (40 or 200 mg/ml) for five minutes, then applied to rabbit eyes. One, four, or eight hours after application, the corneas, aqueous humor samples, and shields were assayed for antibiotic. At all intervals, the concentration of antibiotic in the corneas and aqueous humor samples exceeded the mean inhibitory concentration for tobramycin, as determined for most strains of Pseudomonas. Shields immersed in 200 mg/ml tobramycin produced significantly higher concentrations of antibiotic in the cornea at one hour than subconjunctival injections of tobramycin (20 mg) (P = .0001). Shields immersed in 40 mg/ml tobramycin produced higher, although not significantly higher, concentrations of antibiotic in the cornea at one hour than subconjunctival injections of tobramycin (20 mg) (P = .318). Shields immersed in commercially available tobramycin drops or injectable tobramycin solution (40 mg/ml) caused no epithelial damage visible by slitlamp examination. Collagen shields containing antibiotics can serve as a vehicle for drug delivery and may prove superior to current methods for preoperative and postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and the initial treatment of bacterial keratitis.

Topical anesthetic abuse after radial keratotomy.

A 49-year-old woman developed corneal epithelial defects and stromal infiltration shortly after a 4-cut radial keratotomy (RK) for myopia. Although cultures grew staphylococci and appropriate antibiotic treatment was applied, the epithelial defects increased in size. The corneal epithelium did not heal fully for more than 2 months. Penetrating keratoplasty 1 year later was followed by epithelial breakdown and perforation, as was a second keratoplasty. Despite repeated questioning, the patient did not admit until 18 months after her initial surgery that she had begun self-treatment with dilute proparacaine shortly after RK and continued it after her keratoplasties. The elective use of topical anesthetics to control pain after refractive surgery should be approached with caution, and patients should be warned of the possible consequences of their misuse.

Keratitis from corneal anesthetic abuse after photorefractive keratectomy.

After having photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), a 29-year-old man suffered from delayed epithelial healing and corneal stromal ring infiltrates. All laboratory results including smear, culture, and biopsy for bacteria, herpes simplex virus, and Acanthamoeba were negative. The suspected cause was patient abuse of anesthetics. Subsequently, it was discovered that for 6 months, since just after the PRK, the patient had intermittently used topical proparacaine drops. After all medication was discontinued and the eye pressure patched, the corneal epithelium healed completely. Practitioners should consider the possibility of topical anesthetic abuse in cases of keratitis after PRK.

Topical anesthetic abuse ring keratitis: report of four cases.

PURPOSE: We present the clinicopathologic correlations of two case and two other clinical cases of topical anesthetic abuse keratopathy that were originally diagnosed as Acanthamoeba keratitis because of ring keratitis presentation and characteristic history. METHODS: Four patients who were referred to us with suspected Acanthamoeba keratitis are included. Each was initially treated for amoebic keratitis, by using established protocols, and only later was the true origin (topical anesthetic abuse) uncovered. The clinical and surgical histories, pathologic analysis of the corneal specimens, and follow-up of < or = 4 years are included. RESULTS: Our four cases show another cause for ring infiltration of the cornea. Two cases resulted in corneal transplantation and multiple other medical or surgical treatments in an attempt to restore vision but had poor outcomes of finger-counting vision. Two other cases responded to intensive medical treatments with return of useful vision. Evaluation of the surgical specimens revealed a previously unpublished finding of near total cell death within the corneal stroma. CONCLUSION: Topical anesthetic abuse resulting in sight-threatening keratitis may be seen as a masquerade syndrome in many cases. Because of the often poor outcome, we must be aware of this entity, prevent abuse, and be vigilant in our prohibition of topical anesthetic for any therapeutic use.

Iatrogenic contact dermatitis to proparacaine: an ophthalmic topical anesthetic.

Allergic contact dermatitis to a topical ophthalmic anesthetic, proparacaine, is reported in a patient with refractory glaucoma. His ophthalmologist routinely used a preparation containing this anesthetic, which is an uncommon sensitizer, for measuring the patient's intraocular pressure. That the patient did not apply the medication himself resulted in added difficulty in discovering the iatrogenically induced contact allergy. Avoidance of this anesthetic resulted in resolution of the patient's recurrent bouts of periocular dermatitis and conjunctivitis. The importance of testing patients suspected of having contact allergy to all medications to which they are exposed is emphasized.

Seizures following the use of proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops.

A 28-year-old woman presented to the emergency department for treatment of a corneal abrasion. Shortly after inserting two drops of proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops into her conjunctival sac, she experienced a tonic-clonic seizure. The absorption, systemic effects, and side effects of topical ophthalmological preparations are discussed.

A comparison of Fluoracaine and Fluorox on corneal epithelial cell desquamation after Goldmann Applanation Tonometry.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to quality the frequency and amount of corneal desquamation from a sodium fluorescein/proparacaine combination (Fluoracaine) as compared with sodium fluorescein/benoxinate combination ophthalmic solution (Fluorox) after Goldmann Applanation Tonometry. METHODS: One drop of Fluoracaine was randomly instilled into one eye and one drop of Fluorox was instilled into the opposite eye of the same patient. Intraocular pressures (IOPs) by GAT and tear break-up times (TBUTs) were taken. Corneal stinging was compared. Corneal integrity by Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) standards was evaluated at 0, 3, 7, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after instillation of the ophthalmic solutions. RESULTS: Sixty eyes of 30 patients were observed Forty-seven percent of the patients reported Fluorox to string more than Fluoracaine; 23% of the patients reported that Fluoracaine stings more than Fluorox; and 30% the patients reported no difference. Average TBUTs were 6.87 and 7.17 seconds with Fluoracaine and Fluorox, respectively. Fluoracaine produced micro- and macropunctate keratitis of the superficial epithelium in 31% to 45% of the cornea. Fluorox caused superficial micropunctate keratitis in about 16% to 30% of the cornea. At 20 minutes, all eyes with Fluoracaine and all eyes but one with Fluorox had corneal desquamation. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoracaine causes marginally less stinging--however, clinically and statistically more corneal desquamation--than Fluorox after GAT. Corneal integrity after use of Fluoracaine should be evaluated even 20 minutes after GAT procedures for corneal disruption.

Topical proparacaine abuse resulting in evisceration.

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our clinic because of pain in the right eye. Corneal oedema, peripheral anterior synechiae formation and intraocular lens were determined in the right eye. The left eye was normal except for nuclear sclerosis. Intraocular pressure was 35 mm Hg in the right eye and 14 mm Hg in the left eye. The patient was diagnosed as having bullous keratopathy and glaucoma. He was treated with antiglaucoma drugs and artificial tears as an outpatient. Persistent keratopathy was observed at follow-up, despite adequate therapy. In the detailed anamnesis of the patient, we discovered that he had used a topical anaesthetic instead of the prescribed medicine owing to ocular pain. The patient was still using topical anaesthetic eye drops, despite warnings. Finally, evisceration was performed on his right eye because of corneal melting and perforation.

Effect of a proparacaine 0.50%-sodium fluorescein 0.25% mix and contact ultrasound pachymetry on central and midperipheral corneal thickness measured by noncontact optical pachymetry.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of a combination of proparacaine 0.50%-sodium fluorescein 0.25% and ultrasound (US) pachymetry on central and midperipheral corneal thickness. SETTING: School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. DESIGN: Case series. METHOD: Topographic measurements of corneal thickness in healthy right eyes were obtained using a scanning-slit device (Orbscan IIz) and a Scheimpflug device (Pentacam) before and after application of proparacaine 0.50%-sodium fluorescein 0.25% and US pachymetry. Changes in corneal thickness in the center and 2.5 mm from the center in the temporal, nasal, inferior, and superior locations were assessed. RESULTS: The study evaluated 35 eyes. The scanning-slit and Scheimpflug devices recorded a small but statistically significant increase in corneal thickness at all locations (mean 4.9 ± 14.3 [SD] to 9.1 ± 11.7 µm; P<.05, paired t test). The cornea swelled uniformly across its diameter (scanning slit, P=.934; Scheimpflug, P=.654; analysis of variance); there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of swelling between the 2 devices (P>.05, t test). The 95% limits of agreement were broad (-10 to +30 µm), suggesting a large degree of interindividual variability. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound pachymetry combined with proparacaine 0.50%-sodium fluorescein 0.25% caused a small (<10 µm) but significant amount of corneal swelling on average. Because the effect on corneal thickness may be greater than -10 to +30 µm in individual cases, clinicians should avoid contact procedures before obtaining topographic maps of corneal thickness using scanning-slit and Scheimpflug devices.